From students:

“This program was an incredible opportunity! Being able to work at a research university and still get course credit was the perfect combination. It gave me the chance to see what graduate school would be like, and the opportunity to work and collaborate with some incredible scientists.”

“Not only did I gain a wealth of knowledge from this experiment, but I also felt what I was working on is relevant and important to further understanding global change. It is neat to see and understand how my work fits into the big picture.”

“This program gave me some insight into the real-world applications of research. It also helped me to learn about grad school from recent graduates: the process of applying, the things they liked and didn’t like, the benefits.”

“The opportunity itself was more than amazing. I enjoyed seeing what the educational experience is like at a larger university, and it helped me prepare for the graduate school mind-set.”

“I would definitely recommend that a fellow student participate in such a program because being able to do research in a professional research lab really affirmed my dedication to research. Such a research experience allows a student to go above and beyond normal classroom work and become actively involved in problem solving and in finding answers to scientific questions.”

“I really enjoyed being able to work in a professional lab and using instruments that are available in such a laboratory. I also really came to appreciate the extent of applications in the field of photonics, and I have developed an interest in this area due to this experience. I was also able to learn a lot more about what it means to be involved in research as a way of solving technological challenges in biomedical engineering.”

“I would recommend this program to fellow Meredith students, as a way to further develop research skills. I feel that this program gives students an opportunity to network within the medical community and develop skills to prepare them for a potential career in research.”

“I liked being in a more independent lab setting. [My mentor] was there for questions and helping with the protocol, but she let me do things on my own until I had questions.”

“I really enjoyed developing a mentor-mentee relationship. My mentor is a very caring, patient, thorough and helpful person. Not only is she my mentor, but she has become a role model and someone I can easily talk to about things outside of my research that pertain to my education.”

"This experience was probably the single most valuable out-of-classroom experience that I have had the opportunity to take part in during my college career!"

From mentors:

"It was great showing a student that science is not just about following a recipe and getting expected results."

"My mentee was very interested and engaged, and discovered that she likes translational research. I am really happy that we could give her this opportunity to have a look into the 'real' world."

“The interaction with a student in pursuit of an independent project was very satisfying.”

"I liked getting to know other postdocs at Duke, meeting with the Meredith students and visiting their campus. And having help with my project, of course. My student was a REALLY big help.”

“I learned a lot about how to manage someone else’s time and education.”

“I really liked the cooperation between the post-docs and the Meredith faculty, and the workshop on mentoring.”